Tuesday, July 18, 2006

News Updates from Israel - July 18

11:09 PM Good Night From Israel...may it be a quiet night for all of Israel's residents.

10:42 PM Family in Kiryat Shmona stuck without infant formula/"materna". If you live in the area and have extra, please call 1220 from any Israeli cellphone provider. (Via rotter.net)

10:39 PM Two announcements from the IDF spokesman:

1. A little while ago, Hizbolla fired rockets at Israel -- and rocket impacts were located in the Western Galilee

2. In the continuing war against the Hizbolla, in the past hours, the IAF bombed 12 roads connecting Syria and Lebanon to prevent the transport of wepaons and terrorists from Syria. 52 targets were bombed today, including a vehicle for launching Katyusha rockets in the city of Zur (Tyre).

10:38 PM What weapons do the Hizbolla have? Here's one analysis:

Hizbollah's Iranian Rocket Force

July 18, 2006: It's been no secret that, for years, Iran has been shipping, through Syria, thousands of unguided rockets to Hizbollah in Lebanon. As far back as 2001, there were reports of 240mm Fadjr rockets arriving in Hizbollah controlled territory in southern Lebanon. Both 240mm and 333mm Fadjr rockets are normally mounted on modified Mercedes-Benz 2624 15 ton trucks (10 wheels on 6 axles). There are either twelve 240mm (900 pound) rockets or four 333mm (one ton) rockets. About a third of the weight of rockets like this are the explosive charge in the warhead. The 240mm rocket has a range of 43 kilometers, the 333mm one, 75 kilometers. The Fadjr rockets brought into Lebanon are believed to have come individually, to be fired from locally built launchers. If enough care were taken in the construction of these launchers, the Fadjrs stood a good chance of hitting large urban areas within Israel.

It the last five years, constant reports of Iranian rocket deliveries to Hizbollah indicate that over 10,000 such missiles were brought into southern Lebanon. Most of these rockers are the smaller 107mm and 122mm models. The B-12 is a 107mm, 42 pound, 107mm, 33 inch long, Russian designed rocket that is very popular with terrorists. This rocket has a range of about six kilometers and three pounds of explosives in its warhead. Normally fired, from a launcher, in salvoes of dozens at a time, when used individually, it is more accurate the closer it is to the target. This 107mm design has been copied by many nations, and is very popular with guerillas and terrorists because of its small size and portability.

The 122mm BM-21s weigh 150 pounds and are nine feet long. These have 45 pound warheads, but not much better accuracy than the 107mm model. However, these larger rockets have a maximum range of 20 kilometers. Again, because they are unguided, they are only effective if fired in salvos, or at large targets (like cities, or large military bases or industrial complexes.)

It is believed that fewer than a hundred of the 240mm or 333mm rockets arrived in Lebanon. There may be more of intermediate caliber weapons (160mm), but little has been said about those. Thus it appears that the majority of Hizbollah rockets are the smaller ones. This is important because Hizbollah has to hide these rockets from constant Israeli aerial and satellite surveillance. Moreover, once hostilities begin (as they have now), it's going to be difficult to move large rockets around. Even the 122mm rockets are nine feet long, and not easy to conceal. Source: Strategy Page

10:30 PM Update from a personal friend (this is totally legit)The situation in Tzfat is desperate and there are families living with no electricity, who have absolutely no food at all! Even if they tried to buy some, most stores are closed. Ezer L'Shabbos is getting food from a supermarket on credit, but can't for much longer without paying. They also have to pay to have it delivered since most of their volunteers have left Tzfat. Sadly, the most vulnerable - large families with small children, Baali Teshuva without family support systems, are the ones left behind and are suffering. Please make checks out to Ezer L'shabbos and get them to Shloma Edelstein or drop them off in the mailbox or Pushka at Rabbi Twerski's shul (Ateres Shloime- corner of E29th & K).You can also mail checks made out to Ezer L'Shabbos to: Tzfat Emergency Fund c/o Ordinal, 1412 Avenue M #2467, Brooklyn NY 11230.9:50 PM Qassam Rocket falls on Levi Eshkol street in Sderot9:20 PM Update from the Muqata:IAF F16 jets just flew over the Muqata headed North, and I just finished watching another edition of Israel News Channels 10, 2, and 1. It's very different from CNN and FOX -- since every single story is a different aspect of the war going on. First to Haifa, then Kiryat Shmona, cut to the correspondant in Nahariya, the camera crew in the Magen David Adom underground bunker in Carmiel, and the reporter standing by in Tzefat.

After close to a week of this war, I think tonight was the most depressing as it slowly becomes obivous that this war is not going to finish for at least a few more weeks at best.

The reservists who received call up orders were all enthusiastic, and the country's Jewish population is 95% united in the war effort. The TV news reported that close to 100% of the reservists who were issued call up orders -- showed up, and the parking lots outside the army bases were full.

The residents up North are starting to feel the pressure of less food availablity, as they can't go out to stores as often to buy food, the supermarkets aren't as stocked, and food in general is not reaching all the northern communities. Elderly families are finding it difficult to obtain food in Tzefat and Nahariya. More and more residents of Haifa are leaving the city, going southwards.

I hope to provide a list of places to donate money to -- who will be trying to alleviate these problems in the coming days.

Since nightfall -- about 8:00 PM, there is a very tense quiet up north, and everyone is wondering when the next sirens will go off, where the next missiles will fall.

Nine year old child in Tzefat who is rather scared needs a ride down to Central Israel. If you are driving from Tzefat to central Israel in the near future and can help, please call 050-307-1719. (Note, this is a public request from rotter.net...I will be taking this message down within a few hours)

5:59 PM Since 5:00 PM, there have been over 30 Katyusha rocket strikes in the North. One confirmed fatality in Nahariya, One house completely destroyed in Kiryat Chaim.

5:57 PM Two explosions of Katyusha rockets heard in the Krayot (Haifa area)

5:56 PM Direct hit reported on house in Kiryat Chaim. No Injuries!

5:46 PMElster reports: One of 4 Laguardia towers suffered a power outage. Though you should know that this cannot be connected to Hezbollah or Hamas (at this time) but rather to 97 degree heat.

5:11 PM Reports of wounded in Nahariya, Air Raid Sirens still blaring in Haifa. Explosions heard in North Akko of incoming rockets.

4:50 PM Four rockets land in Akko. No reports of injuries.

4:45 PM Air Raid Sirens blaring throughout Akko, Haifa and the Krayot, continuing for over 20 minutes.

4:23 PM Katyusha rockets continue to rain down in the Western Galilee....air raid sirens continuing.

4:12 PM Three katyusha rockets land in Nahariya.

4:08 PM Explosion heard in Carmiel.

3:39 PM Estimates that 30% of Haifa's residents have left the city, with Nahariya closer to 90%.

2:52 PM Fire breaks out near Shlomi (Galil) as a result of rocket attack.

2:29 PMNewsFirstClass website published news 15 hours after it first appears on the Muqata blog special edition (10:41 PM yesterday)-- that 2 IDF soldiers are reportedly held in Iranian Embassy in Beirut. I'm not sure I believe the report.

2:20 PM Female IDF soldier stabbed down south in Mitzpeh Ramon, Weapon stolen. Arab attacker apprehended. story here (Soldier is in good condition)

2:16 PM As the IDF gives out "tzav-8" (emergency reserve call-up orders) to 3 infantry battalions (story here), I'm reminded of the song..."These Boots were made for Walking"

2:01 PM Jerusalem Museum allowing free admissions to all Northern Residents. (you just GOT to love Israel in the war-time)

Hizbolla has dozens of these Iranian rockets...and they are aimed at Israel. Luckily, Israel's airforce targted a launch truck of these yesterday -- they were all destroyed except for one which mislaunched as a result, blowing itself up in midair and it's flaming wreckage landed in Beirut.

For the rocket and missile affecinados out there (like Treppenwitz) -- a bit about it:

The Zelzal missiles are short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant systems, of which very little is known. The first evidence of their existence came from a number of reports in 1996 which indicated that Iran had three solid propellant missile development programs, called the Zelzal-1, Zelzal-2 and Zelzal-3. However, the liquid-fueled Shahab-3 is now believed to have been designated as the Zelzel-3, which contradicts previous reports.

The Zelzal missiles are most likely unguided or use a rudimentary inertial system. They have ranges varying from 150 to 400 km (93 to 249 miles) and all carry a 600 kg payload. The missile is probably intended as a cheap alternative to importing better systems from China and will replace many of the Scuds that Iran has used against Iraq. The complete lack of a guidance system makes the system only useful as an artillery system to bombard a general area or a large target. As there is no guidance system, the angle and direction of launch will determine the ability of the missile to fly straight, and thus its accuracy. When properly launched, the Zelzal is accurate within several kilometers of its target. Source:MissileThreat

That's a lot more than I really want to know. Here's to praying and hoping that the IAF can knock these out before they get launched.

10:52 AM: 70 families from the northern city of Carmiel arriving in Gush Etzion today to be hosted there.

After reading Yael's blog, to read yours is a breadth of fresh air! Yael is not bad but she is so blind, so naive and so Utopian! And she still has to please her Arab and leftwing readers, groupies at the expense of having a reasoning and rational assessement of the reality instead of her Utopian dreams of peace with those who only want to destroy Israel!

I just hope that Israel will do the job FULLY with Hezbollah and not half way!! And that Israel will kill this Nasrallah FOR GOOD!!

Thanks for your information on the current events unfolding. I regularly follow these events through your blog.

The sad thing about all this is that Olmert will nevertheless try to dictacte to the Israelis, after the war, his convergence plan! Telling them that it is the only choice for Israel!

Sarah and Tafka pp: Yeah...I knew the comments were coming about the chocolate. Perhaps we could have an emergency Cadbury's airlift from the UK?

Ilan: Thanks - come back often.

anon 1:37: Yael has a different viewpoint than I do...and I'm not going to bash Olmert now because at this particular time, we need to rally around ourselves in unity. His speech yesterday should be able to make every Israeli and Jew pround, wherever they are.

We'll deal with the "Convergence" after our soldiers are home safely...and the war is over.

Who knows? Maybe OPlmert will have changed his mind by then (we can dream, right?)

One of 4 Laguardia towers suffered a power outage. Though you should know that this cannot be connected to Hezbollah or Hamas (at this time) but rather to 97 degree heat. Thats like 35 degrees celsius give or take

Questions - According to almost all the news agencies, it's no secret that Syria and Iran are basically funding/supporting the Hezbollah and their war waged on Israel. So why isn't Israel bombing Syria and Iran? Is is safer to just attack Lebanon? And by destroying the Lebanese infrastructures, without doing anything to Syria, doesn't that make Lebanon even more vulnerable to another civil war or a potential an invasion from Syria? Doesn't that make it worse for Israel?